Cars are everywhere in Woodstock
Residents on Pine Grove Street in Woodstock’s main hamlet are seeking help from the town to resolve a dangerous traffic situation on what has been a quiet, narrow residential street. “I love my neighborhood, and I love my neighbors. I feel so very fortunate to have landed in such a wonderful community of caring people. However, I am appalled and frightened by the dangerous driving habits in my neighborhood,” said Shonda Bradford, who moved to Pine Grove Street in 2012, referring to a hit-and-run incident a few months ago where a motorist ran over and killed a puppy and fled the scene. “I always imagined that my 9-year-old son would be able to ride his bike and scooter along our street, but that is impossible with the current traffic situation…When the neighbors learned of the hit-and-run, they were horrified. We couldn’t believe that someone would hit a living being in broad daylight on our street and simply keep on driving,” Bradford said. “All we could think of is that this could have been one of our children or one of our grandchildren.”
Helen Kimmet said she has lived on the corner of Deming and Pine Grove streets for 30 years and has seen a big increase in traffic. For decades, people have used Pine Grove Street as a shortcut, and with people trying to bypass Mill Hill Road congestion, even more traffic has made its way onto the once quiet street. “Every day we’re facing threatening speed drivers who often yell at pedestrians to get out of their way or other drivers for driving too slowly. There’s a lot of road rage seen here,” Kimmet said. She also said more cars are parked on the street, making it harder to navigate.
Supervisor Bill McKenna said he would ask the state Department of Transportation to send an engineer to meet with the Pine Grove residents. Though it’s a town road, McKenna would ask the DOT to make suggestions as a courtesy.
Dangerous motorists are in other areas
Councilman Richard Heppner said he witnessed a motorist driving around 35 mph on the dead-end section of Neher Street. “He then backed out backwards at almost the same speed,” Heppner said. “As Helen says it’s happening more and more to us who live in the village. The problem isn’t just speed. It’s the parking and often illegal parking. That narrows the road even further for walkers and for cars, obviously.”
State to lower speed limit on part of Glasco Turnpike
After much pressure from the town and help from State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Ulster County Legislature Majority Leader Jonathan Heppner, the state Department of Transportation has agreed to lower the speed limit on Glasco Turnpike from Rock City Road to Lower Byrdcliffe Road.
“A big thank you to our legislator, Jonathan Heppner, who worked with me, and (Public Works Commissioner) Tom Jackson, from the county, in pushing this through, because I don’t think the state really was of a mind to reduce this. So it did take a little bit of pushing,” McKenna said. The speed limit will drop from 40 mph to 35 mph.
“Improving the safety and livability of our local roads so they can be shared and enjoyed by all is a top priority — one that Woodstock residents and Town officials have been pushing for for years in regard to Glasco Turnpike,” Hinchey said in a statement.
“Ensuring the public safety of Woodstock residents will always be a paramount priority. Lowering the speed limit on this section of the Glasco Turnpike will improve safety for neighbors, motorists and those of us who enjoy a good walk,” Heppner said. “My late and beloved grandmother, Jane Allen, was a fierce advocate on this issue and many others from her home on Glasco, and I’m proud to say we haven’t stopped. We will continue to advocate for safe streets throughout the community.”
Join the family! 
